Sophie Devine walked in at number 3 with New Zealand chasing 160 and the crowd on their feet. What followed was a masterclass in controlled aggression. She struck 64 off 34 balls — eight fours, two sixes — and dictated terms against a South African bowling attack that had no answers to her placement and timing. When the match went to a Super Over tied at 159, Devine was the one New Zealand trusted with the bat. She delivered.

Dercksen had done her job for South Africa, smashing 55 off 32 with eight boundaries to lift her team to a competitive total. Luus added 30 off 29 in the middle order. The bowling was tidy enough — Tryon took 2 for 13 — but Devine simply refused to be contained. She found the gaps, punished the short stuff, and orchestrated the chase with the authority of a player in complete control.

The Super Over proved the difference. Devine's aggressive intent in the death overs, combined with her ability to read length and back her instincts, gave New Zealand the edge when it mattered most. She finished the chase with a flourish, and the hosts held their nerve when defending. Devine's 64 was the template — strike rate of 188, zero dot balls wasted, every boundary carved with purpose. On nights like these, individual brilliance decides tournaments.